Sherman looks to replace football sharing partner

May 29, 2013

SHERMAN - The Sherman Central School District will be looking into possible arrangements with other districts to share football programs, Board of Education members learned Monday, May 13.

Sherman's football program was formerly supplemented with players from Ripley Central School. However, now that Ripley will be sending its students in grades seven through 12 to Chautauqua Lake, that arrangement has ended.

Sherman superintendent Kaine Kelly said he would be discussing the possibility of a shared program with the Clymer Central School District.In particular, he said he wanted to ensure a viable junior varsity team as well as a varsity.

"A lot of times, these teams do not win championships, not because of lack of talent, but because of lack of numbers," he said.

In another sports-related matter, Kelly told the board the semi-pro football team, The Chautauqua Stampede, has requested to play all of its summer games at Sherman. The team had a deal with Dunkirk, but it fell through, Kelly said.

The Stampede has five games planned for summer, beginning on Saturday, June 15. Kelly said the school would look into the full details of such an arrangement and proceed on a game-by-game basis.

"If there are any issues, we're done," Kelly said. "If things are not put away or if there is drunkenness or violence, it's done."

In other business, Kelly reported on a couple of "hot topics" the district will be dealing with soon. Under the recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the district will be required to offer health insurance to at least 95 percent of its full time employees.

Although the legal definitions of the bill are not complete, a person is usually considered full time if they work 30 or more hours a week. The bill goes into effect on Sunday, July 14.

The largest area of concern will be with coaches and substitute teachers, Kelly said. During a three-month period, a coach could easily work more than 30 hours in a week.

"We have time, but it's something we will be hearing a lot more about," Kelly said.

The other topic was an amendment to Education Law 3012c, which mandates the Annual Professional Performance Review. The amendment states if negotiations regarding the APPR are not complete by the beginning of the school term, the plan from the previous year remains in effect.

"So we don't have to worry about losing funds," Kelly said.

Kelly also noted award night for seniors has been changed to Tuesday, June 11. The program was initially planned for Monday, June 10, but 12 seniors will have to attend the BOCES graduation that night.

"I'm not going to have an awards night when 12 of our kids can't be there," he said.